[2024 Jiaxing Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhejiang Jiaxing Catholic Church (Updated Nov)
Churches and Cathedrals
Address:
嘉興市南湖區紫陽街55號近第一醫院
Recommended sightseeing time:
0.5-1 hour
I didn't go abroad, I just went to Jiaxing.
💫 I've always heard about the famous Jiaxing Catholic Church, and I finally had the chance to visit it in person. I was really shocked by it!
👀 When I arrived near the church, I was attracted by its two towering bell towers. At 57 meters high, they stand out in the cityscape of Jiaxing, as if telling the glory of the past.
🎨 When I got closer to the church, I truly appreciated its architectural beauty. This Italian Gothic-style building combines the stability and grandeur of Romanesque architecture. The cement-plastered facade is simple yet dignified, with two bell towers and a cross-shaped plan on the front facade, along with pointed arches, pointed vaults, and flying buttresses. Every detail shows the unique charm of Gothic architecture.
🌟 When I entered the church, the tall dome made me feel as if I were under the vast starry sky. The arched doors, exquisite reliefs, and colorful four-color floor tiles, when the sunlight shines through the stained glass windows, the whole space is filled with a sacred and mysterious atmosphere, as if time has stopped. I unconsciously lightened my steps, afraid of disturbing the tranquility 🤫.
📜 Speaking of its history, it is quite long. It was built in 1917 by an Italian priest, Han Rilu, and took many years to complete. It is said that many of the building materials were imported from France, which is why it can so authentically showcase the charm of Western architecture. Standing in the church, I couldn't help but imagine the stories that happened here in the past. It must have witnessed countless people's joys and sorrows, happiness and sadness.
🆓 When I visited, I found it very considerate, open all day and free!
🚇 The transportation is also very convenient. I took the tram line 1 to Pingshan Station, and then walked about 300 meters to get there.
📷 Friends who come here to take photos must not miss the large lawn in front of the church! With the church as the background, whether it's a full-body photo or a close-up, it's super photogenic, full of European style.
🎬 The side porch is also a treasure check-in point, with excellent light and shadow effects, and any photo taken there has an artistic feel.
🌳 After visiting the church, I went to the surrounding attractions. You must visit the Jiaxing Zicheng Ruins Park across the street, where there are ancient city gates, a tranquil city lake, majestic ancient city walls, and a museum that allows you to learn more about the history and culture of Jiaxing.
🍱 After walking around, I went to try some of Jiaxing's specialty foods. The Wufangzhai Zongzi is famous, soft and delicious; the Wenhu Sauce Duck is rich in flavor, leaving a lasting impression; and the Su Yang Noodles, with tender lamb and rich broth, every bite is full of happiness 😋.
_RKK 26
Encounter Europe in Jiaxing - Jiaxing Catholic Church.
Transportation:
Take Tram Line 1 to Zhongshan East Road Jianguo South Road Station.
Tips:
Jiaxing Catholic Church and its annex are not open to the public.
The Catholic Church, Shen Zengzhi's Former Residence, and Zicheng Ruins Park are all located together, so you can visit all three places at once.
The last courtyard of Shen Zengzhi's Former Residence is also a great place to take photos of the Catholic Church.
Jiaxing Catholic Church is also known as the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. In addition to the main building, the bell tower church, there are also the priest's building, the catechumen's building, and the clergy's residence. The main building combines Gothic and Romanesque styles, but it faces south in accordance with Chinese customs. The building is exquisite and magnificent, while the priest's building and the catechumen's building have a sense of history. The wide lawn in front of the building complex highlights the elegance and nobility of the Catholic Church. Whether in front of the building or on the lawn, you will feel like you are in Europe.
Would you like to take your own "European" photo?
TechTrailblazer
Jiaxing Catholic Church | The third largest church in the Far East.
On the west side of the Zicheng Ruins in Jiaxing, you can see Jiaxing Catholic Church after crossing a road lined with phoenix trees.
The church is in the middle of a lawn, with a Gothic-style appearance, like a medieval European castle, magnificent.
The church was built under the supervision of Italian priest Han Rilu, and was known as the "third largest church in the Far East" (competing with the Xujiahui Catholic Church and Sheshan Basilica in Shanghai for first and second place).
After more than a hundred years of history, the Catholic Church is now a cultural relic, and it is also a popular check-in point in Jiaxing City.
When the light is good, it is very photogenic.
TIPS
Address: No. 55 Ziyang Street, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province
Visit: You can visit the nearby Zicheng Ruins, Yuehu Historical Block, and Nanhu together
Open: Free, can be viewed from the outside, but not accessible inside
CharlotteHawkins47s
Jiaxing Catholic Church丨This isn't Europe!
🌿 Jiaxing Catholic Church, built in 1930, is the "third largest church in the Far East"⛪️. Also known as the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, it is located at 55 Ziyang Street, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It is said to be the third largest church in the Far East. It has witnessed nearly a century of changes in Jiaxing and is a Western building with an Italian Gothic style. Many people come to take photos, and it is especially photogenic.
📍 Address: 55 Ziyang Street, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province
🚗 Transportation:
🚃 Tram: Take the tram from Jiaxing South Station to Zhongshan East Road Jianguo South Road (Pingshan) Station, and walk through the Zicheng Ruins Park to the church.
🚘 Self-driving: Navigate to 55 Ziyang Street, Nanhu District. There is a parking lot north of the church.
🎫 Ticket Information:
Free🆓
🌈 Highlights:
✅ Jiaxing Catholic Church, also known as the "Church of Our Lady of Lourdes," was completed in 1930 and is known as the largest church in China and the third largest in the Far East.
✅ In 1917, Italian priest Han Rilu initiated and presided over the construction, which was completed in 1930. It consists of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, the priest's building, the catechism building, and other buildings. During the Republic of China period, it was known as the "third largest church in the Far East."
✅ The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes has a typical Latin cross layout, consisting of a hall, bell tower, and small chapel. The priest's building is on the southeast side, and the catechism building is on the northeast.
✅ The church is located on Ziyang Street, across the street from the ancient Jiaxing Prefecture City Ruins.
✅ The church faces south and is a Gothic building with twin towers. To the east is the Roman-style priest's building, and to the north are auxiliary buildings such as the Chapel of Suffering and clergy housing. It retains the architectural style of modern domestic Catholic churches.
✅ The area around the church has been developed into a city park. There are large lawns on the west and south sides of the church, and two rows of plane trees on Ziyang Street to the east. Visitors often stop to take photos in front of the church.
📌 Tips:
1️⃣ The interior of the church is not open to the public, so you can only take photos outside. However, visiting Jiaxing Catholic Church this season, the church looks especially beautiful against the red maple trees, and there are many great photo spots.
2️⃣ To the east of the church is the Zicheng Ruins Park (shared in the previous post), and to the south is the former residence of Shen Zengzhi, a great Confucian scholar of the late Qing Dynasty. These can be visited together.
Evelyn~Hayes39
A one-time clear explanation of the most beautiful city walk route in the main urban area of Jiaxing!
A one-time clear explanation of the most beautiful city walk route in the main urban area of Jiaxing!|||
🔘 No detour route: Jiaxing South Station➡️Tram Line 1 (get off at Zhongshan East Road Jianguo South Road)➡️Catholic Church➡️Zicheng➡️Shaonian Road➡️Yuehe
☑️Catholic Church: Gothic architectural style⛪️. Best photo spots: the archway, the big lawn, and the stairs behind the church. The photos look really great when the weather is good, and there's a Shexi Street Shaomai place nearby to eat, but if there's a long queue, you don't need to go there specifically, as the taste is more or less the same anywhere.
☑️Zicheng: With over 1700 years of history, it's a witness to the historical changes of Jiaxing. Here you can appreciate ancient architectural relics like the old city walls, so don't miss out if you're a history buff!
☑️Shaonian Road: A new landmark in Jiaxing! Right where you get off the tram, there's also the May Day City Meetup Festival market now～with hundreds of people performing Kpop dances💃 and band performances🪗, trendy play market🛍️, and the Meetup Festival's beautiful installations are super photogenic📷. Nearby, there's also the popular Jiaxing Check-in Wall (Next stop: Shaonian Road) – when in Jiaxing, you must check in and take a vibrant photo! At the north end of Shaonian Road, there are wall paintings, glowing letters, Tongguan Tower, and container inflatable rabbits, which are also super photogenic!! For food, you can try the Ke Ying Lobster King🦞, which has been open for over twenty years.
☑️Yuehe: A Jiangnan water town, a mini-version of Xitang and Wuzhen, with water buses⛴️ running every 50 minutes (3r💰). There's also a flower and bird market inside (flowers are very cheap), and there are many bars to sit at night. If you want to try Jiaxing zongzi, you can try the Zhenzhen Laolao Zongzi in Yuehe, and there's also a Zongzi Culture Museum to visit.
GREY WEBSTER
Jiaxing Cathedral, once "number one in China, third in the Far East"
Jiaxing Catholic Church, commonly known as the Church of Our Lady or the Cathedral, is located at No. 55 Ziyang Street. It is a Western-style building in Italian Gothic style.
In 1917, the famous Italian architect and priest Han Rilu presided over the construction of the cathedral in Jiaxing. From material selection to construction, Han Rilu personally supervised to ensure the quality of the project. He imported the most advanced building materials at the time, such as cement, steel, pine, colored glass, and colored floor tiles from France, and specified that the bricks for the walls be fired in Jiashan Gan Kiln Town's "Thousand Kiln Tile Capital".
The church cost 80,000 silver yuan and took 13 years to complete. Two bell towers rise in front of the church, 57 meters high, and they long held the title of the tallest building in Jiaxing. When the church was just completed, its scale was "number one in China, third in the Far East".
After the church was completed, the French Paris Foreign Missions Society brought a 675-kilogram alloy bell from France, whose sound could be heard for dozens of miles. During the Anti-Japanese War, the church bell was rung many times by the faithful to warn of Japanese air raids. During the "Cultural Revolution", the church was severely damaged. Now the building has been carefully restored to its original appearance, but the interior is still being renovated and is not yet open to the public.
The church is just across the road from the Jiaxing Sub-city Ruins Park, and there is a large lawn nearby where many handsome men and beautiful women come to take photos and check in every day, and it is also a popular spot for couples to take wedding photos.
In May 2013, Jiaxing Cathedral was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit in the seventh batch.
📍Detailed address: No. 55 Ziyang Street, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province
HarmoniousEscapes
The largest church in China is in Jiaxing!
Avoid the crowds and come to Hecity Jiaxing, where you will find the Jiaxing Cathedral. It is the largest church in China, founded in 1917, and is a national cultural heritage site!
Jiaxing Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Apparition, is adjacent to the Zicheng ruins. It is a Western-style building with Italian Gothic style. When it was first built, its scale was known as the 'third largest cathedral in the Far East'.
The cathedral faces north to south and has a Latin cross floor plan. It covers an area of 7,720 square meters and was built over thirteen years by an Italian priest named Han Rilu. The iron bell in the bell tower weighs 657 kilograms, and its sound can be heard for dozens of miles. It was once the tallest building in Jiaxing for a long time.
The main building consists of the bell tower, central hall, main hall, altar, sanctuary, and surrounding buildings such as the priests' parlor and clergy residences.
Taste of Adventure
Jiaxing is home to the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church
Jiaxing Catholic Church, also known as the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, commonly referred to as the Lady Church or the Catholic Church, is located at No. 55 Ziyang Street, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It is a Western-style building with Italian Gothic architectural style. It is said to be the third largest church in the Far East.
In 1917, the church was built under the supervision of Father Han Rilu, who was of Italian nationality. Father Han Rilu was not only a devout Catholic but also a renowned Italian architect. He personally oversaw everything from material selection to construction work and even imported many advanced building materials from France, including cement, steel, pine wood, colored glass, and colored floor tiles. The bricks used for the walls were specifically fired in Jiashan Gan Kiln Town. He was very strict with the craftsmen. The construction cost 80,000 silver yuan and took 13 years to complete, finishing in 1930. The entire church covers an area of 34,000 square meters, with a building area of 1,320 square meters. The two bell towers in front of the church rise from the ground, reaching a height of 57 meters, and were once the tallest structures in Jiaxing for a long time. The scale is claimed to be the largest in China and the third in the Far East. The structure is made of reinforced concrete, with beautifully intricate carvings.